COMMITTEE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
WEDNESDAY 4 july 2007
Room 144, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
Present:
Danny Kennedy (Chairperson)
Martina Anderson
Tom Elliot
Dolores Kelly
Barry McElduff
Francie Molloy
Stephen Moutray
Jim Shannon
Jimmy Spratt
Jim WellsIn Attendance:
Damien Martin (Assembly Clerk)
Joe Sloan (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Antonia Hoskins (Assistant Assembly Clerk)
Lynda Mulholland (Clerical Supervisor)
Marion Johnson (Clerical Officer)
Eileen Regan (Senior Researcher)The meeting opened at 2.03 p.m . in Public Session.
-
Apologies
Naomi Long
-
Chairperson’s business
Members noted that a number of papers relating to matters arising from the previous meeting had only just been received and agreed that the Committee would consider papers relating to the Maze Long Kesh regeneration project and the review of the Civic Forum under Any Other Business.
Members noted that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson have agreed to meet with the Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities during recess.
Mr Spratt and Ms Anderson joined the meeting at 2.05 p.m.
The Chairperson briefed the Committee on a meeting he had held that morning with Eddie McVeigh, Head of the European Commission Office in Belfast.
-
Draft minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2007
The minutes of proceedings for Wednesday 27 June 2007 were agreed by the Committee.
-
Matters arising
Single Equality Bill
The Committee agreed to record concerns expressed at the previous meeting about delays in progressing the Single Equality Bill and about the lack of detail in the working paper presented to the Committee.
Estimates for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM)
The Committee noted the information provided on the Estimates for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and agreed to consider this information again when it considers the draft budget for OFMDFM in September 2007.
Expenditure on Maze / Long Kesh
The Committee noted the information provided by OFMDFM on the expenditure to date on the regeneration project. The Committee agreed to request a full breakdown of the expenditure, setting out in particular the breakdown of expenditure on consultancy.
Obstacles to cross border mobility and NSMC staffing
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM in relation to queries on these topics.
Mr Mc Elduff joined the meeting at 2.12 p.m. Mr Shannon joined the meeting at 2.16 p.m.
Letter to co-chairpersons of the consultative group and the First Minister and the deputy First Minister on dealing with the legacy of the past
The Committee discussed a draft letter to be sent to the co-chairpersons of the consultative group on dealing with the legacy of the past.
Mr Molloy proposed that the letter should be amended by removing “congratulates” from line 2 of the draft letter and inserting “notes” in its place.
The Committee divided: Ayes 3; Noes 6.
AYES NOES M Anderson D Kelly B Mc Elduff D Kennedy F Molloy S Moutray J Shannon J Spratt J Wells The proposal was accordingly negatived.
The Committee agreed to send a letter to the co-chairpersons of the consultative group congratulating them and noting their appointment.
Letter from OFMDFM on engagement with the Chancellor
Members noted the response from OFMDFM.
Letter from OFMDFM on the Committee’s Forward Work Plan
Members noted the response from OFMDFM.
Letter from OFMDFM on savings arising from the Review of Public Administration (RPA)
Members noted the response provided by OFMDFM. The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM requesting details of savings realised to date on RPA implementation, particularly in relation to the reform of arrangements for health and education.
-
Scrutiny of the Planning Appeals Commission
Mr Wells declared an interest as a Town Planner and in relation to anticipated renumeration for representing a client in a planning appeal.
The Committee was briefed by the Chief Planning Appeals Commissioner Maire Campbell, Deputy Chief Planning Appeals Commissioner, Elaine Kinghan, and Chief Administrative Officer, Ciaran Purvis on the level of planning appeal backlogs and the reasons for these. The officials outlined the Commission’s proposals for dealing with the backlogs.
Mr Elliott joined the meeting at 2.59 p.m. Mr Moutray left the meeting at 3.15 p.m. Mr Spratt left the meeting at 3.17 p.m.
The Committee agreed to write to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister seeking the terms of reference for a review of the Commission being undertaken by the Department of Finance and Personnel and requesting information on the potential for the Commission to retain receipts to increase its administration budget.
-
Scrutiny of European matters
Mr Moutray returned to the meeting at 3.30 p.m. Mr Spratt returned to the meeting at 3.32 p.m. Mr Elliott left the meeting at 3.32 p.m.
The Committee was briefed on the legislative scrutiny arrangements for European Union matters in the United Kingdom and other member states by Eileen Regan (Senior Researcher) . Further research was requested on models for scrutiny of European matters in the Oireachtas.
The Committee agreed that it would undertake a familiarisation visit to Brussels in the autumn before conducting inquiries into how best to discharge its European role.
-
Forward Work Plan
Members were briefed by the Clerk on the need to agree priorities for the Committee’s forward work plan, including consideration of a subject for a Committee inquiry. The Committee requested that OFMDFM be asked to provide further detail in relation to the timing of the Sexual Orientation Strategy, on when the Committee might expect to be updated on the position with regard to proposals for a Commissioner for Older People and on the Committee’s role in relation to the North/South Ministerial Council.
The Committee agreed to conduct an inquiry into child poverty and the Clerk was asked to develop draft terms of reference for consideration by the Committee after recess.
The Secretariat was asked to carry out further work on the Committee’s plan and to include consideration of the public consultation being proposed by OFMDFM on the statutory duty for public bodies in relation to sustainable development. The Committee agreed to consider the forward work plan again at the beginning of next Assembly session.
Mrs Kelly left the meeting at 3.59 p.m. Mr Wells left the meeting at 4.02 p.m.
-
Bichard Report
The Committee received an update on implementation of recommendations in the Bichard Report, including proposals for a co-ordination group. The Committee agreed to write to OFMDFM with its view that the co-ordination group’s terms of reference should recognise the need to work towards harmonising cross-border arrangements for child protection and to indicate that this may also be of interest to the North/South Ministerial Council.
-
Any other business
Save the Children
The Committeenoted the email from Save the Children suggesting that the Committee conduct an inquiry into child poverty.
Mr Moutray left the meeting at 4.04 p.m.
Maze / Long Kesh
The Committee considered a note from the OFMDFM on the roles of OFMDFM and the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure in relation to the different elements involved in the Maze / Long Kesh (MLK) project.
The Committee also noted the draft Outline Business Plan for the International Centre for Conflict Transformation (ICCT) and the Secretariat paper on the previous week’s evidence session with OFMDFM officials on the MLK. The Committee asked that a transcript of the evidence session be produced.
The Committee agreed in principle to issue an invite to OFMDFM / Strategic Investment Board officials from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure to facilitate that Committee’s consideration of proposals to construct a multi-sports stadium at the MLK site. It was noted that the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure would be giving further consideration to the nature of information that it would seeking from OFMDFM/ Strategic Investment Board at its next meeting.
The Committee agreed to convene during the recess, if deemed necessary by the Chairperson to enable the Committee to be consulted by OFMDFM in advance of decisions on the Maze Long / Kesh regeneration project.
Review of the Civic Forum
The Committee noted the terms of reference for the review of the Civic Forum and agreed to consider this issue early in the next Assembly session.
Programme for Government
The Committee noted the response from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the request for further information in relation to the Executive’s emerging priorities and the interim Programme for Government.Review of the Commissioner for Children and Young People
The Committee noted the response from OFMDFM on the review of the Commissioner for Children and Young People.
Research reports
The Committee noted information from the Secretariat on the recently published research study reports, the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2006 and the Analysis of Public Expenditure on Children in Northern Ireland.Advisory Council on Infrastructure Investment
The Committee noted a letter from the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the extension of the life of the Advisory Council on Infrastructure Investment.
Mr Elliott returned to the meeting at 4.18p.m Letter from South East Fermanagh Foundation
The Committee noted a letter from South East Fermanagh Foundation in relation to victims’ issues and agreed to respond indicating that the Committee is still formulating its approach on the issue of dealing with past and will be considering the involvement of key stakeholders as part of this process. The Secretariat was asked to examine the possibility of factoring into the Committee’s work plan a Committee meeting to allow stakeholder groups to brief the Committee.Publication of research papers
The Committee agreed that the research papers it had considered on various topics could be published on the intranet and internet.
-
Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 5 September 2007 at 2.00 p.m. in Room 144 Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 4.20.p.m.
Mr Danny Kennedy
Chairperson,
Committee for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy first Minister